August 8, 2018

Gates Testifies in Manafort Trial

“The star witness in the trial of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort faced tough questioning on cross-examination on Tuesday about a ‘secret life’ that included an extramarital affair and stealing funds from his former boss...

“Manafort is on trial. So is Trump’s judgment... even as they faked legal documents, according to Gates’s testimony, they signed on with the Trump campaign — a move sure to increase scrutiny of them — and not only continued their shenanigans but also tried to exploit their new positions. It was utterly reckless — precisely the quality that made them a good fit with Trump.”

Washington Post

“So far, the prosecution seems to be trying [Manafort] for the crime of being a rich a**hole with bad taste... Much is being made of Manafort’s shopping addiction: this expensive suit, that expensive ostrich-skin jacket, etc... Manafort is charged with lying on his tax returns and on a number of loan applications. That’s what he should be tried for — not for his sartorial adventures.”

National Review

“You know what would be surprising? If Rick Gates and Paul Manafort had suddenly suspended their apparently deeply ingrained habits of fraudulence and thievery during the three months they ran the Donald Trump campaign... given all that has emerged about their shared ethical framework, it’s hard to imagine that the public has received the exhaustive account of those months.”

The Atlantic

“So far, the prosecution seems to be trying [Manafort] for the crime of being a rich a**hole with bad taste... Much is being made of Manafort’s shopping addiction: this expensive suit, that expensive ostrich-skin jacket, etc... Manafort is charged with lying on his tax returns and on a number of loan applications. That’s what he should be tried for — not for his sartorial adventures.”

National Review

“Let's be clear, while Manafort remains innocent until proven guilty, this should be a wake-up call to the president… whether it's Manafort's proximate relationships with notorious organized crime interests in Ukraine or follow-on accusations that he engaged in witness tampering, Manafort doesn't exactly exemplify American morality.By suggesting otherwise...